If you're going to buy a family hatchback that looks as futuristic as the Honda Civic, there's no point in spoiling the overall effect for the sake of a few hundred pounds. All that's lacking with the entry-level 1.4-litre version of this car is a few finishing touches. Alloy wheels perhaps. Plus metallic paint and some sporty addenda would be nice. The Civic SE+ supplies all this at an eye-catching sub-£15,000 asking price.

To be more specific, the £14,910 package runs to 16" 'Atlas' alloy wheels, metallic paint in 'Vivid Blue' or 'Alabaster Silver' and an 'Image Pack' with colour-coded front, side and rear skirts, plus a body-coloured spoiler. That's in addition to the standard specification of all current 1.4-litre Civics which runs to power steering, central locking, remote keyless entry, twin front and side airbags, ABS with EBD, brake assist, electric heated mirrors, a height adjustable driver's seat, 60:40 split rear seats, a CD stereo, active head restraints, climate control, a refrigerated glovebox and steering wheel-mounted audio controls. The 1.4-litre SE+ is available only in the five-door bodystyle.

Though the sporty styling add-ons are nice to have, the wow-factor in the way the Honda Civic looks doesn't depend upon them. It's a product of the car's essential design. The multi-angular rear end, the slashes of light across the nose and tail, the plunging roofline and the stocky silhouette: the Civic's stand out features are as eye-catching on this 1.4 SE+ as they are on the plusher derivatives. Buyers at this level miss out on the twin chrome exhausts but otherwise, there's little to make you feel inferior to people who've parted with a little more for the 1.8 or around £1,500 more for a 2.2 diesel.

"This Civic this feels a more complete car than its rivals. Enough said."

As well as the Civic's exquisite exterior, the car has an interior straight out of a 1980's sci-fi show. When seated at the wheel, you half expect to turn to your left and see one of the Cylons from Battlestar Galactica riding shotgun. The multi-layered dash is a daunting thing to come to terms with at first but at least the entry-level 1.4-litre models do without some of the more advanced features which thins down the button quota a bit. If you can fight the initial urge to panic and grab at the manual, you'll find that the car is surprisingly intuitive to use. The information you need is prioritised across two displays, with the most essential nuggets positioned at the top of the dash closer to the driver's line of sight. The second display resides within a more conventional binnacle and details engine revs, fuel levels and the various trip-computer functions.

It looks really good and, like the rest of the car, very different but there is an initial suspicion that it's all a bit gimmicky. Actually get to grips with the Civic, however - pushing the buttons, twisting the dials, turning the wonderfully sculpted steering wheel, shifting with the rollerball gear lever - and you soon feel the quality and realise what thought has gone into the driver/vehicle interface. Some of the plastics used look like they may be prone to scratching and the fabric on the cloth seats also looked like it could wear over time but otherwise the interior gets a firm thumbs up.

The 1.4-litre i-DSI engine used in the SE+ is an 82bhp unit that, like most Honda petrol units, responds well to being revved quite hard. Peak power is achieved at 5,700rpm, so there is a benefit to be gleaned from holding on to your gears that shade longer. Performance isn't really the point of this powerplant but if you really persevere, it will spirit the Civic from 0 to 62mph in 14.6 seconds, way down on the 8.9s sprint that's achievable in the 1.8-powered model. The 1.4 i-DSI is the engine to go for if your life at the wheel seems to be spent in one long traffic jam. The engine is ideal for crawling along through urban sprawl, with its modest 47.9mph combined and 37.2mpg urban fuel economy figures and hushed refinement. Torque of 119Nm is produced at 2,800rpm and this helps when pulling out briskly into tight gaps in the traffic.

On the road, the 1.4 Honda Civic is much as you would expect from a 1.4-litre family hatchback. The engine is quiet and competent but not particularly exciting. The Civic is very at home in urban areas where the light touch of its controls and its tight turning circle make it a pleasure to punt about. In such situations, the lack of get up and go from the engine isn't too important and you're free to get on with enjoying the responsive chassis. The thick C-pillar hinders visibility out the back as does the split rear screen but you get a good view around the front of the car.

Honda's Civic SE+ is an entry-level family hatch that doesn't constantly remind you of the fact. The engine is refined, economical and reasonably sprightly, build quality is good and there's a surprising degree of practicality to the interior. Its £14,910 price point is a shade above comparable Focus, Megane and Golf models but this Civic feels a more complete car. Enough said.

TOP 3 CIVIC DEALS

The results below show the top CIVIC deals on buyacar

	Honda Civic 1.8 i-VTEC SE+ 5dr Spec edn Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £907	Price £14,268
	Honda Civic 1.4 i-Dsi SE+ 5dr Spec edn Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £869	Price £13,656
	Honda Civic 2.2 i-CTDi SE+ 5dr Spec edn Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £988	Price £15,487